Safety latch



July 2} 1929. J. NOWOTNY SAFETY LATCH F iled June 1, 1927 [Wm/tog Josef jvbwotml,

Patented July 2, 1929.

UNITED STATES JOSEF NOWOTNY, OF VIENNA, AUSTRIA.

SAFETY Application filed June 1, 1927, Serial No.

My present invention relates generally to latches, and has particular referenceto an improved safety latch for employment with suitcases, bags, handbags, and the like.

lit is well known that the latches heretofore cn'zployed are frequently of a character which snap open of their own accord, resulting in considerable annoyance. It is one object of my present invention to provide a latch wherein the inadvertent opening thereof is greatly minimized.

It is another object of my invention to provide a latch which is, nevertheless, of a character which is simple to close and equally simple to open despite the security with which the latch remains closed unless properly manipulated.

Another object is to provide a latch which may be closed in the usual and customary manner, i. e., by simply applying and pressing one element against another element, in terengagemcnt of the elements being thereby eifected.

A further object lies in providing a latch which is so constructed that opening of the latch cannot be effected by a mere mutual retraction by said intcrengaging elements, but can be effected in a simple and expeditious manner by moving said elements relatively to each other in a direction different from such retractive direction.

In general, it is an object to provide a latch which is of simple construction and which of neat appearance and compact, so that the shape of the bag with which the latch is employed is not impaired.

For the attainment of the foregoing objects and such. other objects as may hercinafter appear or be pointed out, I have constructed two embodiments of my invention and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the bottom or engaging portion of the latch with the cover plate thereof removed. to disclose the interior; the parts being shown in the positions which they assume when the latch is closed;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing a slight modification and showing the parts in the positions they assume when the latch is being opened;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line AB of Fig ure 1 and showing the complementary ele- LATCH.

195,671, and inAustr ia March 15, 1927.

ment of the latch in poised position ready for engagement with the portion illustrated in Figure 1; and

F1gure 4 is a view similar to Figiu-e 3 taken substantiallyalong the line C- -D of Figure 2.

The bottom or engagement portion of the latch comprises the casing 1 provided with a substantially flat cover plate 6. An engagement element a is mounted in the 111g 1 1n such a manner as to be pivotable and also movable in a radial direction with respect to said pivot. A spring 6, mounted in the casing 1, tends automatically and cont nuously to hold the element a in the position shown in Figure 1, i. e., with the free end of the element a furthest from the p1vot point. A closing member 0, also pivotally mounted in the casing 1, is continuously acted upon by a spring (Z and is thus constrained continumisly to press against the side of the element a, thereby normally holding the element a in the position showil in Figure 1.

It is obvious that the element a is pivotally movable around the pivot point thereof (at the upper end of Figure 1) against the action of the spring d; and it is also clear that the slot adjacent the pivoted end of the element a permits the latter to be moved longitudinally with respect to itself against the action of the spring 2).

A slot 7 is provided in the cover plate (2 and is arranged to overlie the free end or tip of the element a when the latter is in the normal position of Figure 1. The slot f is arranged along a tangent with respect to the areuate movement of the tip of the element a. The "closing member 0 underlies the major portion of the slot if under normal conditions.

The complementary catch element of the latch is designated by the reference numeral 2 and is adapted to be associated in a suitable manner with the complementary portion of the bag. In the form of Figures 1 and 3 the catch element 2 is provided with the apertured element g, and in the form of Figures 2 and 1 such apertured element is supplanted by a knob element 71 The catch element, whether apertured or knob-shaped, is adapted tobe pushed through the slot 7 into the casing 1 and into engagement with the free end or tip of the complementary engagement element a. For this purpose,

' the engagement element a of Figures 1 and f 3 has itstip beveled or inclined. In the form of Figures 2 and 4 theknob h is beveled instead of the forward tip of the engagement element a.

It will be obvious that when the catch element is pushed down against the free tip of the engagement element a, these two elements will automatically interengage in a well known manner, and the normal closure of the latch is thus e'iiected. lVhen it is desired to reopen the latch, however, a mere retractile movement of the catch element will be insufficient and in thisway inadvertent opening of the latch is prevented.

To open the latch, the portion 2 must be deliberately and purposely moved in a sideward direction so that the catch element will travel along the'tangential line defined by the slot f. lVhen this movement is effected,

, the engagement element a, is drawn with it for a certain distancebut presently will find itself released, This is due to the fact that .the'catch'element is constrained to move y along the tangential direction defined by the slot f, while the engagement element a is constrainedb y its pivotal mounting to move its tip along the arcuate path indicated in Figure 2. In this way the tip moves sideways and then backward and becomes released. During this arcuate movement,

the closing membe'r c 'will have been rotated into the position of Figure 2 but as soon as release is efiected and the ortion 2 is with- I drawn from the slot f, t e parts will all resume the normal positions shown in Figure 1 under the actions of the springs b and d. v I i Itwill be obvious that changes in the details herein described and illustrated for the purpose of explaining the nature of my invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. It is therefore intended that these details be interpreted as .illustrative, and not in a limiting sense. Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and i desire to'secure by Letters Patent is 1. In .a latch of the character described, a catch element, a complementary engagement element so mounted as to be pivotable and also movable a radial direction with respect to said. pivot, means for causing 1nter-engagement of said elements by a. movement of the engagement element in said radial, direction, and means for preventing separation of said elements except by a pivotal movement ot' said engagement element.

I 2. In a latch of the character described, a slotted casing, an engagement element pivoted therein, yieldable means for normally holdingthe free end of said element under said slot, and said element being so mounted that said free end may be made to yield either radially toward the pivot point or arcuately about said pivot point.

3. In a latch of the character described, a slotted casing, an engagement element pivoted therein, yieldable means for normally holding the free end of said element under said slot, and said element being so mounted that said' free end may be made to yield either radially toward the pivot point or arcuately about said pivot point; said yieldable means comprising a spring winch is arranged to counteract said radial yielding; and a second spring which is arranged to counteract said arcuate yielding.

4. In a latch of the character described, a slotted casing, an engagement clement pivoted therein, yieldable means for normally holding the free end oi" said element under said slot, and said element being so mounted that said free end mav be made to yield either radially toward the pivot point or arcuately about said pivot point; said yieldable means comprising a spring which is arranged to counteract said radial yielding; and a second spring which is arranged to counteract said arcuate yielding; and a pivoted member interposed between said second spring and said engagement element and having a portion which normally underlies said slot.

5. In a latch of the character described, a slotted casing, an engagement clement pivoted therein, yicldable means for normally holding the free end of said element under one end of said slot, said element bein so mounted that said free end may be mm c to yield either radially toward the pivot point or arcuately about said pivot point, and said slot being arranged along a tangential direction with respect to said arcuate yielding.

6. In a latch of the character described, a slotted casing, an engagement clcmcnt pivoted therein, yieldable n'ieans for normally holding the free end of said element under said slot, and said element being so mounted that said free end may be made to yield either radially toward the pivot point or arcuately about said pivot point; and a complementary catch element exterior of the casing and so constructed and arranged that application thereof through said slot to said free end will cause the latter to yield momentarily in said radial direction and thereupon engage said catch element in a manner which is inseparable by retractive movement of the catch element out of said slot.

7. In a latch of the character described, a slotted casing, an engagement element therein and so mounted for pivotal movement that the free end of said engagement element normally underlies the slot but will withdraw from beneath the slot when the element is pivoted, a complementary catch cept by movement of said catch element longitudinally of said slot so as to pivot said engagement element to withdraw the free 10 end from beneath the slot.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

J OSEF NOWOTN Y. 

